Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition wherein the bones of a person become fragile and porous. Bones become porous due to a depletion of calcium that leads to the bone becoming brittle. If not prevented, or if left untreated, a case of osteoporosis may progress painlessly until one day when the bone breaks. The bones that usually fracture are the hipbones, spine and wrist.

The inside of a bone consists of a strong mesh of protein and minerals that are constantly renewed by bone turnover. In this process, old and worn-out bones are broken down to be absorbed by the body while new bone tissue is created from fresh protein and minerals. In young children and men, more new bone is created than is broken down. This is how bones become denser and bigger, and is also the reason for the lesser occurrence of osteoporosis in men. Bones are strongest when the peak bone mass is reached, which is usually around the mid-twenties. This remains for about ten years, until about 35, when bone loss begins to overtake creation as a normal aging process. However, in cases of osteoporosis, this process happens more quickly, to lead to premature bone weakness.

Osteoporosis usually strikes the elderly population and can be prevented by a vitamin-rich diet, exercise and proper treatment. Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis as long as the infected bone is less dense than normal bones. However, a hip fracture requires major surgery and hospitalization. Spinal fractures have other serious consequences that include loss of height, severe back pain and deformity. Nowadays, millions of Americans are at risk of contracting osteoporosis. However, women are always four times more likely to develop this than men; and whites and Asians more likely than Latinos and Blacks, due to genetics. Osteoporosis is also more common in women going through menopause.